By Joy Jiang

AFTER twenty four years of life abroad, Deena Gu Laties is returning to Shanghai with 44 of her paintings to be presented in her hometown. This will be her first solo exhibition in China, although she’s already given solos in the United States since 1984. The exhibition will be an assembly of her very best paintings, most of which are recent works.

Under the name, Gu Ting, Deena’s art life commenced with the famous painter Cheng Shifa, now president emeritus of the Shanghai Chinese Painting Academy, after she graduated from senior high school in 1978. Actually, it was Cheng's wife who gave her the name Ting, with the hope that she would grow up as a graceful lady; the name also implied that Deena would be the last student of the master. According to Cheng Shifa, Deena had shown promise from the very beginning. She wanted to paint something “of my own,” which distinguish her from others. Deena was also the apprentice of famous Chinese painter Tse Chen-Na. After four years of hard work copying great Chinese paintings of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Deena had a solid foundation in Chinese painting, and her diligence paid off generously. Under the instruction of her tutors, her skills were well-established. It was then that she began to think about seeing the world.

In 1982, she went to the United States, and began her pursuit of beauty and art in a completely different world.

When asked how she felt about the cultural conflict, Deena smiled tenderly, as if it was never a problem to her. “There is no borderline in the world of painting. No matter what genre you are following, basic skills are forever the essence of your artistic life.” When she went abroad, Chinese paintings weren’t popular and it was difficult for her to carry on this artistic form she'd been fond of. It was her intelligence and diligence that helped her win the respect and appreciation of others. She finished the four-year curriculum at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in three years, with a full scholarship. Right after graduation, she held a solo exhibition at the Joy Berman Gallery of Philadelphia. Her studies allowed her to meld Western art with Chinese painting successfully.

Famous Chinese painter Ting Shaokuang highly appreciates Deena Gu’s paintings. “Her skills and techniques vary from a realistic, detailed style to one that is spontaneous and mixed with fluid strokes,” he wrote in one of his articles. “Her scope covers all subjects, from landscape to portraits and flowers to birds. More importantly, her strokes and ink are powerful without being rigid and gentle without being weak.” According to Derek Gillman, President and the Edna S. Tuttleman Director of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Deena’s flower paintings are disciplined and elegant, and she has technical refinement.

Gu has exhibited a number of well-received solo and group shows in the United States, and is admired for her sensitivity of touch. Renowned international artist Sam Maitin once said, “In painting watercolor on silk. I find that her command of the medium is extensive. I don’t know anyone else who handles it so deftly and so expertly. Deena’s work has become somewhat universal. Taking excellent training, and motifs and aesthetics of the East and mixing them with her own Western training to achieve something that can be understood by the West as well as the East.”

Gu’s favorite painting media are watercolor and silk. Silk is a traditional Chinese painting medium, its smoothness helps exhibit the most exquisite colors of paintings. “I also paint oils on canvas, but only when I’m painting on silk I feel as if I could communicate with it. Silk is like a part of me.” Gu said.

Gu has been devoted not only to the pursuit of beauty, but to the pursuit of love. Her love for Chinese painting led her to the practice of communicating it to Westerners. She has participated in all kinds of demonstrations and other activities to give publicity to Chinese art. Her efforts include demonstrations of water color painting at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and participating in the Museum’s education projects named “Learning from Asian Art,” offering and training local teachers. She has also been teaching watercolor technique at Falmouth Artists’ Guild, and calligraphy at the Valley Forge High School.

She has been a lively contributor to the art scene in Philadelphia. She works as a member of the School Committee of the Pennsylvania Academy. She has been funding a prize for the best work in watercolor at the Academy, in order to further the usage of the medium, since many do not see reward of employing it in paintings.

Deena has also been teaching kids. Each month, she spends two Sundays teaching Chinese girls of nearby families — girls adopted by American families — to learn Chinese paintings. Mentioning this, she smiled like a proud mother. She called them “my girls.” “My girls love painting. When they come to my house, they were so devoted that they even refuse to take a break during the three hours’ class.”

For Deena, it is an effort to help the little girls carry on their own cultural memory and tradition.

Gu’s recent exhibition is to be held on March 27th at Shanghai Chinese Painting Academy. “We are very honored to have Deena with us.” Lydia Lu, Corporate Communication Director of the sponsor, Corning (Shanghai), said, “It is a great opportunity for us to see the perfect combination of Western and Eastern culture.”

Although soaked in a foreign culture for twenty four years, Deena’s soul is still purely Chinese. “Always remember who you are. And where you are from.” she said, as if to herself. Just like the beautiful lotuses that repeatedly appear in her paintings, Deena is blossoming quietly, but freely, in the world of art.